Potato-sorter.



2 O m 2 .t p e S d e .I n e a P L L A W N P S A A L 8 5 r 9 0 7 0 NPOTATU SOBTER.

(Application filed Sept. 28, 1901.)

3 Shaets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

m: Norms Psrzns co, Pmn'o-Lwnu, WASHINGTON. n c.

No. 709,658. Paiented Sept. 23, I902.

L. A. ASPINWALL.

POTATO SORTER.

"Application filed S pt. 28, 1901.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

m my In: News FZYERS cc. Pnmo-umu. WASHINGTON. u. c.

N0. 709,658. Patented Sept. 23, I902.

L. A. ASPINWALL.

PUTATO SORTEB.

. Application filed Sept. 28, 1901.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Q @A L a. m A; W

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

LEWIS AUGUSTUS ASPINWALL, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORv TO ASPINWALLMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN,

A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

POTATO- SORTER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 709,658, dated September23, 1902.

Application filed September 28, 1901. Serial No. 76,824. lNo model.)

To all 1071/0721 it H/ay concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS AUGUSTUS AS- PINWALL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State ofMichigan, haveinvented an Improvement in Potato-Sorters, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My present invention is an improvement upon the devices shown anddescribed in Letters Patent granted to me July 10, 1900, No. 653,332. 1

My invention relates to mechanical devices for sorting potatoes intoseveral sizes and for separately delivering the sizes as assor1ed,and inthe operation of sorting the potatoes those that are decayed andotherwise imperfect can be readily detected and removed by hand.

I provide a suitable frame, and mounted thereon are parallel shafts andsprockets. Two endless parallel chains carrying adjustable sortingdevices extend around the pairs ofsaid sprocketsand are operatedthereby,and I provide devices actuated by a movement of said chains foragitating the same progress ively. The chains and sorting devicesconnected thereto carry along and deliver the larger potatoes and permitthe smaller ones to fall through between the parts thereof upon asuitable incline. These sorting devices are preferably made with oneedge scalloped or serrated, and said devices are adjust-ably connectedto the chain, so as to provide openings of various dimensions throughwhich all but the larger potatoes are free to pass. The potatoes fallingthrough are received upon and move down an incline onto an inclinedhopper and parallel set of inclined bars, the smaller potatoes passingthrough between the bars and the medium-sized potatoes are received bypickers, as in my aforesaid patent, upon a revolving cylinder and aredelivered into a receptacle separate from that re ceiving the smallerpotatoes, the larger potatoes meanwhile being delivered from the sortingdevices into a chute provided therefor.

In the drawings, Figure l is side elevation representing my improvedpotato sorter. Fig. 2 is a partial elevation and longitudinal section ofthe lower end of the machine. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the higherend of the machine. Fig. 4.- is a cross-section at the line 00 a; ofFig. 1. Fig. 5 a crosssection at the line at 03 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is across-section at the line 1/ 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a partial plan ofthe inclined hopper and bars. Fig. 8 is a cross-section of the partsshown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an end view of the picker-cylinder. Fig. 10is a partial section and elevation of the sorting device at the higherend of the machine. Fig. 11 is a plan and partial section representing apart of the sorting devices and chains carrying the same, and Fig. 12 isa cross-section at the line 2 .2 of Fig. 10. Figs. 10, 11, and 12 are ofexaggerated size for clearness, and in the other figures of the drawingssome of the parts have been omitted also for olearness and to avoidunnecessary duplication.

The frame of the machine comprises the legs 01' supports 2, the barsides 3, andthe end bars 4. These bar sides are inclined, and at thelower end bracket-arms 5 are provided, and an inclined supply-hopper 6is connected to these bracket-arms and rests at its lower forward edgeupon the bar sides 3. The bar sides 3 are in reality three pieces, twoparts being within the outer parts and extending above and below thesame and connected thereto, so that between the inner parts there areways provided for the endless chains 0 0', upon which they bear and overwhich they are moved.

At the upper end of the machine I provide an end chute 7, and shafts Cta, parallel to one another, are placed transversely of the machine atthe respective ends and are mounted in suitable bearings, the uppershaftat one end being provided with an operating-handle and crank it. Uponthese shafts act and near their ends between the bar sides I providepairs of sprockets b b. The endless chains 0 o are of any desired linkconstruction and 6X- tend around the pairs of sprockets Z) Z). Thealternate links of these endless chains are provided with lugs, andcross-bars d extend between the chains and are connected by bolts 8 tothese alternate links. Between the bar sides 3 I provide an incline 9,extending lengthwise of the machine between the pairs of sprockets, andthe endless chains and sorting devices on the return movement pass below this incline 9.

I provide sorting-plates 6, having one straight edge and the oppositeedge scalloped or serrated. The ends of these sorting-plates areprovided with a series of holes 15, and on each cross-bar d at therespective ends I provide hubs d with arms, the hubs beingloose on thecross-bars d and the ends of the arms being perforated for bolts 10,which pass through the same and through one hole of the series at therespective ends of the sorting-plate c. It will be apparent that if thebolts pass through holes in the sorting-plates nearest to their straightedges said straight edges will be farthest away from the adjacentcrossbars and that the serrated edges will be nearest to the nextcross-bars, which are those adjacent to the serrated edges, and, as willbe seen from Fig. 11, there are series of openings between the incurvesof the serrated edges and the cross-bar upon which said serrated edgerests, which openings are approximately of triangular form; It will bealso noticed that if the bolts 10 are shifted to the second or thirdholes of the series the said openings between the serrated edge and thecrossbar will be increased, the straight edge of the sorting-platecoming nearest to the cross-bar, to which it is pivoted. In this way theopenings in the serrated edge of each sorting-plate and between the sameand the cross-bar on which such plate rest-s may be increased in size.Potatoes that are small enough pass through these openings, and thosethat are too large are carried upon the sorting-plates from the inclinedsupply-hopper 6 up the inclined sorting-plates and are delivered overinto the end chute 7. The sorting-plates e being freely pivoted by hubsd and arms to the cross-bars d normally rest upon said bars, and Iprovide means for agitating these sortingplates, so as to move thepotatoes as they are conveyed along toinsure the smalleronespassingthrough the aforesaid openings. For the purpose ofagitation I employtoothed wheels f, that are pivotally connected to the inner oppositefaces of the bar sides 3. (See specially Figs. 5, 10, and 12.) Thesetoothed wheels or agitators are of dishing form, and, asshown in thedrawings, each one is provided with four teeth and each tooth formed bya short radial edge and an inclined edge. These agitators are so setthat they are acted upon and turned by the hubs d on the cross-bars d,which come in contact therewith as the endless chains and sortingdevices move along up the inclined frame. The object of these agitatorsis to raise the sorting-plates a short distance to compel a movement ofthe potatoes supported thereby, and the constant movement of thesesorting-plates shifting the potatoes into different positions makes itpossible for the smaller potatoes to come into such position that theywill be caused to pass through the openings between the cross-bars andthe serrated edges. From Fig. 1 of the drawings it will be noticed thatsix of these agitators are shown by dotted lines in the length of themachine and that they occupy different positions. Consequently thesort-- ing-plates are irregularly lifted, which has a tendency toincrease the agitation and keep the potatoes moving as they are conveyedalong. These agitators are necessarily arranged inpairs upon oppositesides of the machine, the one exactly opposite the other and occupying acorresponding position, the forward movement of the endless chains bythe sprockets b upon the shaft a automatically effecting the movement ofthese agitators, so that the pairs act progressively upon thesorting-plates and as they rotate under each sorting-plate to raise thesame with their movement they drop one plate before raising the nextplate. In this manner the mass of potatoes moving up the range ofsorting plates is kept in a constant state of agitation, so that thelarger potatoes only remain on top and the smaller potatoes find theirway down and through the openings hereinbefore spoken of between theincurves of the serrated edges and the adjacent cross-bars. Fig. 11shows by full lines one position of the sorting-plates, the dotted line20 shows the second position of adjustment, and the dotted line 30 thenext or last position of adjustment.

At the lower portion of the machine I provide an inclined hopper g, thehigher end of which is securely connected to the legs 2, and the saidhopper is also supported from the bar sides 3 by the arms g. This hopperg has a transverse metal plate 11, which forms the edge to the hopper,and secured to this metal plate are the inclined fingers h. Thesefingers are preferably let into the plate 11, so that their uppersurfaces are flush with the plate, and they are secured thereto bybolts. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 show these parts clearly, and I prefer toenlarge the upper end of the bars h where they are let into the plate11, so as to strengthen the upper end of the bars on account of thebolt-holes, A

The lower end of the inclined hopper sides carry the cylinder 41 insuitable bearings connected therewith, and upon the surface of thiscylinder 2' there are pickers 12. These pickers 12 each have aportioncurved to correspond to the periphery of the cylinder, and at thisportion said pickers are connected to the cylinder in any suitablemanner. From this portion of each picker there is a rising portionextending outward from the surface of the cylinder and adapted to comein contact with and raise the potatoes that have passed down the fingersh and not passed through between the same. The smallest potatoes passbetween the fingers h and fall into a pile or are received into areceptacle. The larger potatoes remain upon the fingers and are taken upby the pickers 12 and carried over the cylindert' and delivered intoanother pile or into a receptacle provided therefor.

The pickers 12 are not only of the shape hereinbefore described andshown in the drawings, but they are arranged about the cylinder in twospiral sets, so that there are fou r pickers for the openings betweenthe respective fingers, except the two outside fingers at either side,and here there are only two pickers'for each space. By this constructionit will beapparent that the larger number of potatoes are lifted overthe central portion of the cylinder rather than at the respective ends,as the potatoes would he more liable to be injured by coming in contactwith the sides of the hopper, and this is avoided by moving the largernumber of them at the center, which consequently causes a movement ofthe potatoes toward the center to fill up the space from which potatoeshave already been taken. l

The cylinder i is provided at one end with a sprocket l5, and there is asprocket lei on the end of the shaft a, and a chain 13 passes over thesesprockets, the rotation of the cylinder i being effected by the rotationof the endless chains from the shaft a to the shaft a and from the shafta to the said cylinder, the parts all rotating in the same direction.

The potatoes that come down the incline S) shoot off the lower endthereof and readily pass between the vertical hanging sortingplates 6 ontheir return'movement, the said plates not interfering, materially withthe movement of the potatoes. By this construction it will be apparentthat the potatoes are sorted out in at least three sizes. The pota toesthat pass over the chute 7 are usually those reserved for the market.Those that pass over the cylinder t are usually those reserved for seed,while the small ones, that pass through between the fingers h, arepreferably employed for feeding stock.

I claim as my inventiou 1. In a potato-sorter, a sorting device forseparating the potatoes and retaining only larger potatoes, comprisingparallel endless chains,crossbars extending between and connecting thesame, a series of sortingplates scalloped or serrated along one edge,devices for loosely pivoting and for adjustably connecting said platesto said arms so that in use the scalloped edges rest upon the nextadjacent cross-bars and on the return movement the said sorting-platesturn over and hang freely.

2. In a potato-sorter, the combinationwith an inclined hopper, of twoendless parallel chains, devices for connecting said chains andoperating the same, cross-bars extending between the chains andconnected to opposite links, sorting-plates each having one edgescalloped or serrated, devices at their respective ends for adjustablyand loosely pivoting said plates to said cross-bars, so that each plateis pivoted to one crossbar and is normally supported by the adjacentcrossbar, means for agitating said plates as they are drawn along by thecross-bars with the forward movement of the chains, whereby thesorting'plates turn over and hang free from the chains on the returnmovement.

3. In a potato-sorter, the combination with an inclined hopper, of twoendless parallel chains, devices for connecting said chains andoperatingthe same, cross-bars extending between the chains and connected toopposite links, hubs with arms extending therefrom loosely surroundingthe said crossbars at the respective ends, sorting-plates having attheir respective ends a series of holes by which With bolts they areadjustably con nected to the arms of said hubs, and toothedwheelagitators in pairs secured to the frame of the machine beneath thechains and adapted to be operated by the movement of the chains and tocome into contact with the said sorting-plates alternately andprogressively for raising the same and agitating the potatoes,substantially as set forth.

4. In a potato-sorter, the combination with an inclined hopper, of twoendless parallel chains, devices for connecting said chains andoperating the same, cross-bars extending between the chains andconnected to opposite links, hubs with arms extending therefrom looselysurrounding the said cross-bars at the respective ends, sorting-plateseach having one edge scalloped or serrated and having at theirrespective ends a series of holes by which with bolts they areadjustably links of the chains, sorting-plates having one edge scallopedor serrated, devices pivoted to the crossbars and adjustably engagingthe ends of the sorting-plates, the said sortingplates at their serratededges normally resting upon the said cross-bars so that between theirincurves and the cross-bars there are openings, the sizes of which maybe increased or diminished and through which openings potatoes may pass,substantially as set forth.

6. In a potato-sorter, the combination with an inclined hopper, of twoendless parallel chains, cross-bars connected at their ends to links ofthe chains, sorting-plates having one edge scalloped or serrated,devices pivoted to the cross-bars and adjustably engaging the ends ofthe sorting-plates, the said sortingplates at their serrated edgesnormally resting upon the said cross-bars so that between their incurvesand the cross-bars there are openings the sizes of which may beincreased or diminished and through which openings potatoes may pass,and toothed-wheel agitators pivotally connected to the inner faces ofthe side frames and rotated by the movement of the chains for raisingalternate sortingplates and so agitating the mass of potatoes carried bythe said devices, substantially as set forth.

7. In a potato-sorter, the combination with an inclined hopper, of twoendless parallel chains, cross-bars connected at their ends to links ofthe chains, sorting-plates having one edge scalloped or serrated,devices pivoted to the cross-bars and adjnstably engaging the ends ofthe sorting-plates, the said sortingplates at their serrated edgesnormally resting upon the said cross-bars so that between their incurvesand the cross-bars there are openings the sizes of which may beincreased or diminished and through which openings potatoes may pass,and toothed-Wheel agitators securely connected to the inner faces of thebar sides and each tooth of which COlllprises one radial and oneinclined edge, the radial edges being acted upon by the chains and theinclined edges raising the sortingplates alternately and progressivelywith the movement of the parts, substantially as set forth.

8. In a potato-sorter, the combination with the inclined hopper g, ofthe metal plate ll transversely thereof, 'the inclined fingers hconnected to said plate 11 and let into the upper face thereof, thecylinder 'i above the free ends of said fingers, and pickers l2 arrangedin two spiral sets about the cylinder so that there are two pickers atthe respective ends of the cylinder coming between the end fingers andfour pickers in circular rows upon the said cylinder coming between eachof the other fingers, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

Signed by me this 20th day of September, 1901.

LEWIS AUGUSTUS ASPINWALL.

Witnesses:

O. G. RoWLEY, W. O. SHANAFELT. v

